Tab applicator



Jan. 1, 1963 H. R. BENTFIELD TAB APPLICATOR Filed Nov. '7, 1961 FIG. 7

T 2 I 20 /9 /a This invention relates to the application of identifying tabs to file folders, index cards or other filing material, and more particularly is directed to an applicator by which tabs, which identify the associated filed material either by the color of the tabs, indicia thereon or the location of the tabs on the filed material, may be conveniently secured to file folders, index cards or other filed material. In the description which follows reference will be made to filing folders, which for the sake of brevity, will be referred to as folders but it will be understood the invention is not limited to the securing of tabs to folders but can be used for securing tabs to index cards, other cards, card stock and items generally to or near an edge of which it is desired to secure a tab.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a tab applicator adapted for use with a tab having a central indicating portion and laterally projecting securing or attaching wings at the opposite sides thereof which are intended to be passed through pairs of inner and outer openings punched in a folder adjacent a margin or edge thereof for securely attaching the tab to the folder.

In using identifying tabs of the described character, the tab is initially flexed or bent about the medial line of its identifying portion so that the attaching wings of the tab can be passed through the inner pair of holes punched in the folder and, upon release of the tab, the indicating portion of the latter lies at one side of the folder and the attaching wings are disposed at the other side of the folder and extend across the outer pair of punched openings. The specific function of the tab applicator embodying the present invention is to drive or force the free end portions of the attaching wings of the tab through the outer pair of punched openings so that such free end portions then extend beyond the outer pair of punched openings and are disposed at the same side of the folder as the central identifying portion of the tab, whereby the tab is securely attached to the folder to prevent inadvertent removal or separation of the tab therefrom.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a tab applicator capable of functioning in the above described manner, while supporting the tab and the folder in the regions adjacent to the punched openings of the latter so as to avoid or minimize tearing of or damage to the folder or of the tab during the attachment of the latter.

A further object is to provide a tab applicator of the described character which is particularly convenient to use, and which is of simple and relatively inexpensive construction.

In accordance with this invention, the tab applicator comprises first and second complementary jaw members which are resiliently secured together for movement to ward and away from each other and adapted to receive therebetween a tab and the edge portion of a folder, with which the tab has been partially or initially assembled by extension of the wings of the tab through the inner pair of punched openings, as more fully described hereinafter, with the first jaw member having a locating recessadapted to receive the central indicating portion of the tab and also having a pair of spaced apart openings at an edge of the jaw member and adapted to register with the outer pair of punched holes in the folder, and with the second jaw member having a pair of spaced apart projections extending therefrom toward the first jaw member and registering with the spaced apart openings so that,

atent ice when the jaw members are pressed towards each other, the projections or lugs of the second jaw member urge the free end portions of the lateral attaching wings of the tab through the outer pair of punched holes of the folder and into the cooperating openings of the first jaw member thereby completing the attachment of the tab to the folder. The folder and tab thus fixed thereto is withdrawn from the applicator upon movement of the jaw members away from each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the projections or lugs on the second jaw member have rounded 'top surfaces to effect smooth bending of the attaching wings of the tab as they are forced through the outer pair of punched holes of the filed material, while the first jaw member is beveled at the outer edges or margins of the openings therein to permit the free ends of the attaching wings of the tabs to spring outwardly after being passed through the outer pair of punched openings of the folder. The tabs are the customary commercially available plastic tabs which have inherent resiliency, i.e., can be flexed and when the pressure is released spring back to their original position.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a tab and the peripheral portion of a folder having punched openings therein by which the tab is secured to the folder by the tab applicator embodying the present invention:

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View showing the tab and peripheral portion of the folder associated together following the initial step of placing the wings of the tab in the inner pair of openings in the folder;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 2, but showing the positions of the tab wings relative to the folder following the completion of the attachment by the tab applicator embodying this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the tab applicator embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 on FIGURE 4, and illustrating the association of the tab applicator with the tab and folder during the operation of the tab applicator;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 5, but showing the condition of the tap applicator upon the completion of the attachment of the tab to the folder; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 77 on FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGURE 1 thereof, it will be seen that an indicating tab T of the type to be secured to a folder F by an applicator embodying the present invention includes a central indicating portion I and attaching Wings W extending laterally from the opposite sides of the indicating portion I adjacent one end of the latter. The folder F is formed with an inner pair of punched openings H desirably of oblong shape, and an outer pair of similar punched openings H suitably spaced apart adjacent a peripheral edge of the folder. In attaching the tab T to the folder F, the tab is initially flexed or bent about its medial line either manually or through the use of any suitable implement, as shown in broken lines on FIGURE 1, so that the attaching wings W can be passed through the inner pair of punched openings H Upon release of the tab T, the tab and the folder F are in the relative positions shown in FIGURE 2, that is, the wings W extend through the inner openings H and project outwardly beyond the outer punched openings H and further are disposed at the side of the folder F opposite to that of the central indicating portion I of the tab. In order to complete the attachment of the tab T to the folder F, it is necessary to project the free ends of the attaching wings W through the outer pair of punched openings H so that these free ends of the attaching wings will then be disposed at the same side of the folder F as the central indicating portion 1 of the tab T, as shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4 shows a tab applicator 1t} embodying the present invention and which is used with a tab T and folder F initially associated with each other as shown in FIGURE 2 and operative to complete the attachment of the tab to the folder, that is, to act on the attaching wings W for displacing the latter from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the final position shown in FIGURE 3. This applicator is of any convenient size so that the portion engaged by the hand of the user fits comfortably in the palm of the user; the exact size will depend chiefly on the size of the tabs to be applied and may, of course, be carried as desired. For a letter size folder the size shown in FIGURE 4, or somewhat smaller will be found adequate.

The tab applicator comprises complementary, first and second, generally T-shaped, rigid, jaw members 11 and 12. These jaw members may be molded to the shape shown in the drawings of any desired resin such, for example, as metal filled epoxy resin, phenol formaldehyde or acrylic resins. Metal, if desired, can be used as the construction material for these jaw members. The jaw members 11 and 12 have central shanks or stems 13 and 14, respectively, and laterally extending heads 15 and 16 at adjacent ends of the shanks 13 and 14, respectively, while the opposite ends of the shanks are adhesively or otherwise connected to a generally U-shaped, resilient connecting member 17. Resilient member 17 forming the .handle of the applicator can be of any plastic such as a modified acrylic resin, polypropylene having the desired resiliency so that it springs back when pressure is released. Spring steel can be used, if desired.

The resilient connecting member 17 yieldably urges the jaw members 11 and 12 to the spaced apart condition illustrated in FIGURE 4, but permits the movement of the jaw members toward each other, for example, to the position shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 upon application of pressure to the upper ends of connecting member 17 or to the shanks 13 and 14 by the hand of the user. In order to maintain accurate registration of the jaw members 11 and 12 during the relative movement of the latter toward and away from each other, a pin 18 is secured in one of the jaw members, for example, in the shank 14 of jaw member 12 (FIGURE 7) and is slidably engageable in an aligned bore 19 formed in the shank 13 of the other jaw member 11.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the head 15 of jaw member 11 has a thickness which is substantially less than that of the associated shank 13, while the latter is formed with a suitably shaped locating recess 20 (FIGURES 4 and 7) immediately in back of the head 15 and opening through a narrow slot 20 under the lower surface of head 15.

'As shown in FIGURE 7, recess 21) is dimensioned to receive the central indicating portion I of the tab T when the latter is initially associated with the folder or other material F, as in FIGURE 2, and extended under head 15 through the front opening of recess 20. The forward edge of tab T passes through slot 29 and when the tab is in place it rests on supporting ledge 21' forming a floor or base for the opening 20. This opening and associated parts are dimensioned so that the side and forward edges of tab are confined and thus the tab is firmly held in fixed position relative to the folder. Hence, when the indicating portion I of the tab T is thus engaged in recess Zil, the tab and the folder F are thereby positively located with respect to the heads 15 and 16 of jaw members 11 and 12.

The head 15.0f jaw member 11 is formed with a pair of spaced apart openings 21 in the front edge portion thereof which are located to register with the pair of outer punched openings H of the folder F when the tab T initially associated with the latter has its indicating portion I received in recess 20. Preferably, head 15 is beveled at the outer edges of cutouts 21, as at 22, for a purpose that will be described hereinafter.

The head 16 of the second jaw member 12 is preferably thicker than the associated shank 14, as is apparent in FIGURE 7, so as to permit the close approach of head 16 to head 15 when jaw members 11 and 12 are removed towards each other. The head 16 is formed with a pair of spaced apart lugs or projections 23 extending from the upper surface thereof, that is, the surface facing toward the head 15, and having rounded contours, as is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The lugs or projections 23 are located for registration with the openings 21 of head 15 when the jaw members are moved toward each other, and the lateral width of each lug or projection 23 is smaller than the lateral width of the related opening 21 to provide a clearance therebetween which is at least equal to the thickness of the material forming the tab T.

In using the above described applicator 10, the tab T and the folder F associated with each other in the condition illustrated in FIGURE 2 are inserted between the heads 15 and 16 of jaw members 11 and 12 and the central indicating portion I of the tab is positioned in recess 2%, while the edge of the folder F abuts against the shoulder 2 (FIGURES 4 and 7) defined at the back of the bottom face of head 15. Thus the tab and folder are properly aligned, the tab end I being firmly held in this aligned position by being confined with-in recess 20 and its associated parts hereinabove described. When jaw members 11 and 12 are manually pressed together, the bottom surface of head 15 firmly engages the folder F in the region of its punched holes, while the lugs or projections 23 of head 16 push upwardly against wings W of the tab, as shown in FIGURE 5, and thereby flex the wings between the edges of openings 21 and the rounded contours of the lugs 23 to facilitate the passage of the free end portions of the attaching wings W through the outer pair of punched openings H of folder F and through the openings 21 of head 15. As heads 15 and 16 come together, as shown in FIGURE 6, the bevels 22 at the outer edges of openings 21 permit the free ends of the wings W to spring upwardly and outwardly. The manual pressure urging the jaws 11 and 12. towards each other is then released so that the resilient connecting member 17 can return the jaw members to their original spaced apart condition, whereupon the tab T completely attached to the folder -F can be removed from between the spaced apart heads 15 and 15.

The flexing of. the wings W effected by the lugs or projections 23 to facilitate the passage thereof through the outer punched holes H of the folder also ensures that, in the final attached condition illustrated in FIGURE 3, the free ends of the attaching wings W will tend to bear downwardly against the folder F and thereby prevent catching of such wings upon adjacent filed materials.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An applicator for attaching to -a filing member an indicating tab of a material having inherent resiliency tending to spring back to its original position when flexed under tension upon release of the tension, said tab having an intermediate indicating portion and wings on the opposite sides at one edge of said intermediate indicating portion extending laterally therefrom, said wings being of less width than said intermediate indicating portion to provide a projecting portion arranged, when the indicating tab is attached to said filing member to project above the upper edge of said filing member, said filing member having near said upper edge thereof an inner and outer set of spaced openings, said tab being initially assembled on said filing member by passing the wings through the inner set of openings to project across and beyond the outer set of openings in said filing member, said applicator comprising complementary first and second jaw members; said upper jaw member consisting essentially of a flat clamping surface having an aligning shoulder spaced from the forward edge thereof extending downwardly from the underside of the upper jaw member and arranged to act as an aligning edge for the said upper edge of said filing member, a tab locating recess positioned centrally of said upper jaw member and having a tab receiving opening beneath and adjacent the said flat clamping surface through which opening the said projecting portion of said tab is inserted in said tab locating recess, said projecting portion being snugly received by said tab locating recess so that the walls of the latter cooperate with said jaw members to hold the said indicating tab properly aligned relative to said filing member, said upper jaw member having two openings, one at each side of said tab locating recess, said openings being positioned at the {forward edge of said upper jaw member directly above the said outer openings in said filing member when the filing member is positioned with the said projecting portion positioned in said tab locating recess, each of said openings in said upper jaw member having contiguous thereto a surface inclined upwardly from the base of the side edge of said opening near the side of said upper jaw member to the upper surface of said upper jaw member spaced from said side edge thereof; said lower jaw member consisting essentially of a substantially flat clamping surface cooperating with the flat clamping surface on the upper jaw member, having a rear angular depression positioned to receive said aligning shoulder when the upper and lower jaws are in clamping engagement with each other and having a pair of upstanding projections aligned with the said two openings at the forward edge of said upper jaw member, so that when said jaws are clamped together said projections engage the lateral end portions of said wings forcing said lateral ends through said outer openings whereby the said inclined surfaces permit the free ends of said Wings to spring outwardly into engagement with the filing member thus firmly locking the said indicating tab onto the upper edge of said filing member; and means securing together said jaw members for relative movement toward and away from each other.

2. An applicator as in claim 1; wherein said means securing together the jaw members includes a bent resilient strip secured at its opposite ends to said first and second jaw members, respectively, and forming a handle for the applicator; and further comprising at least one pin extending \from one of said jaw members, the other of said jaw members having a bore slidably receiving said pin to accurately guide said jaw members with respect to each other during the movement of the jaw members toward and away from each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,483,714 Brooks Feb. 12, 1924 1,664,289 Feathers Mar. 27, 1928 2,279,068 Siebrandt Apr. 7, 1942 2,800,961 Cutler July 30, 1957 3,030,968 Oberstar et al. Apr. 24, 1962 

1. AN APPLICATOR FOR ATTACHING TO A FILING MEMBER AN INDICATING TAB OF A MATERIAL HAVING INHERENT RESILIENCY TENDING TO SPRING BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION WHEN FLEXED UNDER TENSION UPON RELEASE OF THE TENSION, SAID TAB HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE INDICATING PORTION AND WINGS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDES AT ONE EDGE OF SAID INTERMEDIATE INDICATING PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM, SAID WINGS BEING OF LESS WIDTH THAN SAID INTERMEDIATE INDICATING PORTION TO PROVIDE A PROJECTING PORTION ARRANGED, WHEN THE INDICATING TAB IS ATTACHED TO SAID FILING MEMBER TO PROJECT ABOVE THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FILING MEMBER, SAID FILING MEMBER HAVING NEAR SAID UPPER EDGE THEREOF AN INNER AND OUTER SET OF SPACED OPENINGS, SAID TAB BEING INITIALLY ASSEMBLED ON SAID FILING MEMBER BY PASSING THE WINGS THROUGH THE INNER SET OF OPENINGS TO PROJECT ACROSS AND BEYOND THE OUTER SET OF OPENINGS IN SAID FILING MEMBER, SAID APPLICATOR COMPRISING COMPLEMENTARY FIRST AND SECOND JAW MEMBERS; SAID UPPER JAW MEMBER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A FLAT CLAMPING SURFACE HAVING AN ALIGNING SHOULDER SPACED FROM THE FORWARD EDGE THEREOF EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE UPPER JAW MEMBER AND ARRANGED TO ACT AS AN ALIGNING EDGE FOR THE SAID UPPER EDGE OF SAID FILING MEMBER, A TAB LOCATING RECESS POSITIONED CENTRALLY OF SAID UPPER JAW MEMBER AND HAVING A TAB RECEIVING OPENING BENEATH AND ADJACENT THE SAID FLAT CLAMPING SURFACE THROUGH WHICH OPENING THE SAID PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID TAB IS INSERTED IN SAID TAB LOCATING RECESS, SAID PROJECTING PORTION BEING SNUGLY RECEIVED BY SAID TAB LOCATING RECESS SO THAT THE WALLS OF THE LATTER COOPERATE WITH SAID JAW MEMBERS TO HOLD THE SAID INDICATING TAB PROPERLY ALIGNED RELATIVE TO SAID FILING MEMBER, SAID UPPER JAW MEMBER HAVING TWO OPENINGS, ONE AT EACH SIDE OF SAID TAB LOCATING RECESS, SAID OPENINGS BEING POSITIONED AT THE FORWARD EDGE OF SAID UPPER JAW MEMBER DIRECTLY ABOVE THE SAID OUTER OPENINGS IN SAID FILING MEMBER WHEN THE FILING MEMBER IS POSITIONED WITH THE SAID PROJECTING PORTION POSITIONED IN SAID TAB LOCATING RECESS, EACH OF SAID OPENINGS IN SAID UPPER JAW MEMBER HAVING CONTIGUOUS THERETO A SURFACE INCLINED UPWARDLY FROM THE BASE OF THE SIDE EDGE OF SAID OPENING NEAR THE SIDE OF SAID UPPER JAW MEMBER TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID UPPER JAW MEMBER SPACED FROM SAID SIDE EDGE THEREOF; SAID LOWER JAW MEMBER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT CLAMPING SURFACE COOPERATING WITH THE FLAT CLAMPING SURFACE ON THE UPPER JAW MEMBER, HAVING A REAR ANGULAR DEPRESSION POSITIONED TO RECEIVE SAID ALIGNING SHOULDER WHEN THE UPPER AND LOWER JAWS ARE IN CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER AND HAVING A PAIR OF UPSTANDING PROJECTIONS ALIGNED WITH THE SAID TWO OPENINGS AT THE FORWARD EDGE OF SAID UPPER JAW MEMBER, SO THAT WHEN SAID JAWS ARE CLAMPED TOGETHER SAID PROJECTIONS ENGAGE THE LATERAL END PORTIONS OF SAID WINGS FORCING SAID LATERAL ENDS THROUGH SAID OUTER OPENINGS WHEREBY THE SAID INCLINED SURFACES PERMIT THE FREE ENDS OF SAID WINGS TO SPRING OUTWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FILING MEMBER THUS FIRMLY LOCKING THE SAID INDICATING TAB ONTO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FILING MEMBER; AND MEANS SECURING TOGETHER SAID JAW MEMBERS FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. 